A Christian Song Made Me Do It (And Other Excuses We Use)
By: Kristen L. McNulty
Reprint rights available on request. Email the author at kristenmcnulty@hotmail.com.
Last weekend I was watching an episode of Dateline titled
The Perfect Life. During the show, something was said that has been on my mind ever since. The host of the show, Andrea Canning, was interviewing a man who admitted that he cheated on his wife, having an affair with her best friend. Sadly, that story isn't all that uncommon. But was uncommon was the thought process behind the man's decision. He said he had an epiphany that gave him the green light for the affair after listening to, get this: a Christian rock song. From the lyrics of the song he took away the message that life is short and you shouldn't hesitate to do what makes you happy. I had to shake my head listening to this man try to justify his actions as I've heard the song he referenced. I play the band who sings it nearly every week of the show. I've interviewed them. I've even heard them share their heart behind the song in question. Yes, it's a song that talks about how fleeting our lives are, but the song isn't a call to do things that bring us a high even if those things are sinful actions that are going to hurt someone and destroy a family. In fact, the artist behind the song said in an interview that he wrote the song as a reminder that he should spend more time with his kids and his wife instead of wasting too much time on other activities in life.
This story is so outrageous and at first glance, looks so uncommon. Who leaves their wife and kids after hearing a Christian song? But is this instance really so far-fetched?
Maybe you or I have never used a Christian song to justify leaving a spouse, but isn't it true that we are both capable and guilty of using anything to justify our behaviour, including the things of God?
How We Excuse Our Sin
We slandar people online, sharing negative information about them that we don't 100% know to be true. But we do so because we think they are up to something wrong, so in our minds, that justifies our actions even though the Bible calls us to flee from all sin, including slander.
"So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander." 1 Peter 2:1
We can convince ourselves to believe the lie that God wants us to be happy more than he wants us to be holy and use that faulty theology to partake in sexual sins including sleeping with those we aren't married to, having affairs, or engaging in lustful behaviour. And we do so, even though the Bible clearly teaches against it.
"Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery." Hebrews 13:4
The Bible Doesn't Give Us Outs or Excuses
This man's story, and our own behaviour, shows us that we have a way of convincing ourselves it's okay to sin, even though the Bible doesn't give us outs or excuses like we'd like to believe it does.
Tell me where it says in the Bible you can leave your wife if you find someone you like or love more?
Tell me where it says in the Bible it's okay to gossip about someone else?
Tell me where it says in the Bible that it's okay to live with someone you aren't married to.
Tell me where in the Bible it says that instead of building up other believers, we have a free pass to openly criticize them?
Tell me where in the Bible it says sin isn't sin if you say it isn't.
Living According To His Standards, Not Ours
The Bible shows us time and time again that we aren't called to judge our behaviour based on standards of our own making. No, the Bible teaches us that when it comes to our behaviour we are called to follow the standard set in the Bible. And if the Bible says what we are doing is a sin, isn't it rather foolish to try to pretend here and now that it isn't? When we do so we are only fooling ourselves. God knows us and He knows what we are up to. If God wanted to give us an out when it comes to sin or if there are excuses that are acceptable, then we would have been provided with them in the Bible. But those pages are missing from His Word. Instead, we're taught in James 1:22-25:
"But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don't obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it." James 1:22-25
An alternative to fooling ourselves
So instead of turning into the guy on Dateline who fooled himself to the point of destruction, we should spend all of our time and efforts avoiding sin and repenting of it, rather than trying to excuse it. We should also not not be content with only knowing the Word of God, but also with obeying it. Because the Bible is very clear, one day we will be accountable for what we did in our lives.
"Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God." Romans 14:12
"And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you." Matthew 12:36-37
"For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body." 2 Corinthians 5:10
That said, let us pursue a life of holiness rather than a legacy built on sin, lies, and excuses.
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